couldn't get through it

What a wonderful portrayal of events & situations that I witnessed in the south. All told in a warm, enlightening and authentic manner. Should be required reading for school children and desired reading for those who want to truly understand what black people in the south went through - if they were fortunate to go through it.

This book will alter your perception of our country forever. The genius of the book is that it delivers a sweeping, historical narrative through the lives of flesh and blood people - not composites or dry statistics. It is impeccably-researched history wrapped in masterful storytelling. In agreeing with other reviewers, this book should be required reading of all who wish to understand our country.

I really, really loved it. I first heard about the book when I was listening to a podcast of the New York Times Book Review when the author gave a short interview about the book and really wanted to read the book afterwards. In otherwords, I was intrigued with the concept of the book and really like it. I wasn't disappointed with the book and really liked the stories of the three principles that she wrote about. I almost felt like I wanted to go to these people to hear their stories about life in the South before they left for their Northern and Western cities. They almost became like family to me, hearing about how they got to their certain points in the United States and how they met with the challenges that confronted them. I highly recommend the book.

This book, as well as Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, should be required reading in every North American high school curriculum.

Best book of 2010. The characters come alive on the page. It's a part of history that not many in the US and Canada know about. I'd love to see this as a movie. Highly recommend.

Oral histories formm the backbone of this historical narrative. The lives of African Americans who made the Great Migration are detailed here with heartbreaking clarity.

Stunning book. A must read. I feel as if questions I have had all my life have been answered. Critical reading for those who enjoyed The Help or Mudbound, very popular book club books.

The heroic exodus from the South.